Snow does not come to our part of the country very often, maybe every five years or so.   You can imagine my excitement a few days ago when I awakened to see our lawn and all the surrounding trees  covered with  a beautiful white magic  blanket.   Not only that, but it was still falling!  I quickly ran to our bedroom to share this scene with my husband, Richard, ignoring the fact that he is from Michigan, the Winter Wonderland.   I urged him, “Come quickly!  You won't believe it!” As he peered out the window, his exact words were, “Good grief!" Goes to show, different strokes for different folks!

Three days later now, the snow has dripped its last drops from the roof tops and the grass is showing its brown winter coat again.  Richard is content to know a three day snow is about the limit here in our southern home.

As I look out the window and see the snowless trees sway in the winter wind,  I’m reminded of the seasons of life.  Not many weeks from now the grass in the meadow by my window will start its new look for 2008.  It will change so subtly that we will hardly notice. Then suddenly the whole field will be green. Change is something we live with.

I think back to last year at this time and the changes looming in our life. I was high on anticipation of my trip to Seattle to visit my son. His sudden death changed all plans and my husband and I wearily flew to be with his family a week earlier than originally planned. (See my story, "My Little Boy, The Man" in the Sanctuary Section.)

I think of my father who, at the age of 86, has had to adjust to life without my mother this past year.

I think back over the year to numerous changes in our life and the lives of our family and friends.  Some changes  were good, some sad.  It reminds me that life is never the same.  There is always change.  There is life; there is death; there is marriage; there is divorce; there are job changes; there is sunshine; there is rain; there are storms and there is snow.

Our Heavenly Father knew we would need something in our lives that  stayed  constant. It’s a good thing to know that as the day comes to a close, darkness will come.  When I awaken, there will be light.  A few short weeks from now daffodils will challange our landscape with color.  Then before we  realize it , sunflowers will become droopy with summer rain showers.   The seasons tell  me God is a God  of order in the midst of all the changes around us.     It’s comforting to read in the Holy Bible in Genesis 8:22:  "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat and summer and winter and day and night shall not cease."

                                                                                                                                      
God has given us His majestic order of seasons to enjoy in our constant changing lives;  to reassure us that He is still in control.  Yet, He doesn't go against our will to control us. He chose not to make us puppets on a string, but He trusts us to make Him a part of  our lives. Have you taken that step? Or are you struggling with life,  doing the best you can? Why? Try Him, He won't disappoint you.

 "Whoever believes in Him  will not
                   be disappointed.  
                                 Romans 10:11

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                   "People see God everyday, they just don't recognize Him."
                                                            ~ Pearl Bailey~